Process for treating pipe lines



Patepted Act. 28,1924.

AETIS G. CAMPBELL, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

PROCESS FOR TREATING PIPE LINES.

N'o Drawing. Application filed June 29,

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTIS C. CAMPBELL, a. citizen of the United States,residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Process for TreatingPipe. Lines; and I do declare the follmving to be a full, clear, andexact de scription of the invention, such as will onable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention resides in a process of cleaning pipe lines used forconveying crude petroleum, whereby deposits collecting on the innerwalls of the pipes as a result of the settling of impurities in the oil,can be readily removed.

Crude oil as it is taken from the oil wells contains a considerableamount of natural sediment and heavy oily matter, which has beenvariously termed waste oil, cut oil, and B. S. This natural sediment andthe heaviest oily matter contained in crude oil, that is, the so-calledwaste oil, cut oil, or B. S., has heretofore always been considered aswaste and thrown away as soon as it could be separated from thedesirable portions of the crude oil. The waste portions of crude oil hassometimes been thrown into streams and rivers with, not only the resultof polluting the same, but also with the consequence of killing the fishtherein, or destroying the animal and vegetable life therein. Othertimes it has been discharged onto the land with a detrimental effectupon the soil and vegetable life. Even before it has been separated fromthe desirable portions of" the crude oil, it has collected and becomedeposited in all the pipe lines and apparatus through and in which thecrude oil has been run and placed prior to being refined, and all thosepipe lines and apparatus have been clogged )y the deposits of thisnatural sediment and heavy oily matter.

I have discovered a preparation which will dissolve the natural sedimentand the heaviest oily matter contained in crude oil, namely the wasteoil, cut oil, or B. S., and by the use of this preparation the tubings,casings, pipe and shipping lines, re ceiving tanks, and all apparatusthrough and in which crude oil is run and placed prior to being refinedcan be cleansed from the matter deposited therein by the natural 1922.Serial No. 571,815

sediment and heaviest oily matter contained in crude oil.

.1 have also discovered a practical use for all of the sediment andheaviest oily matter contained in crude oil, that is, the so-calledwaste oil, cut oil, or B. S., and in fact for practically all of theheretofore con-- sidered waste portions of crude oil, for I have foundthat by dissolving this heretofore considered waste portions of crudeoil and thinning it by treatment with my preparation, which is analkaline solution, said heretofore considered Waste portions of crudeoil will become a highly elficient, useful and desirable crude oil influid form, or thin oil,

ready for shipment to the refineries to be used for the production oflubricatin oil, fuel oil, hard oil, and their by-prod ucts. By hard oilis meant an oil which has become so thick that it has aconsistency-similar to that of grease. By treating said waste portionsof crude oil with my preparation, thin and hard oil can be produced. Forit must also be remembered that 'if in the process of treatment ashereinafter set out, said crude oil is boiled too long it will become ahard oil, which as such can be used in cups, etc. Hard oil will alsoresult if after treatment the fluid mentioned above is permitted tostand until congelation. Aside from having an aim to'provide apreparation for treating the said waste portions of crude oil, I have asan object of my invention the utilization of said heretofore consideredwaste portions of crude oil to the production of lubricating and fueland hard oils, and their icy-products.

My preparation preferably consists of amixture of soda ash, sal soda,bicarbonate of soda and naphtha. These substances may be mixed togetherin various proportions, but I have found that very good results may beobtained by mixing them together in the proportions of one pound of sodaash, to one pound of sal soda, to one pound of bicarbonate of soda andone pound by weight of naphtha.

To use this preparation which is in dry form, it should be dissolved inwater or steam. It is preferable to dissolve it in hot water, and I havefound that. very good results can be obtainedby dissolving about threepounds of the dry preparation in about thirty-one gallons of water. Iwish it understood, however, that the solus run and: 301m: Saind sholiidbe merely 1n tank I apparaau or 5 mm: through the: same, and run; ;tlnnlglzig p rit w" i elea' es: the i gg hen ""nereasi' etion.=

' toib'eu d he prepoiitien fl q ndheavy; ingwater;.=.=.=.dsfioilyimatter sheuildt ted fremi;f;:2;:1n=ia:preees, I I I theother portion of the crude oil in any apfrom pipe lines used forconveying crude propriate manner, and after that has been oil, the stepof passing through the pipe. done, it should be treated with theemullines a composition consisting of the followsion, and when treatedthe sediment will ing ingredients combined in substantially 85 =0 bedissolved by the emulsion and the heavy the proportions stated, to Wit,soda ash, one 'oily matter thinned. The resulting mixture; pound; sodiumbicarbonate, one pound; and

or product will be suitable for shipment to naphtha dissolved in water.the refineries for the production of lubri- In s im ny fifl I have r untSe eating, fuel, and hard oil, and their by-prodmy hand- 3 ucts; or ifduring the process of treatment as hereinbefore mentioned, the portionun- ARTIS C. CAMPBELL.

